Life

4 Days, 1 Race: IRONMAN Austria

Majestic mountains, a crystal clear lake, and a finish line party like no other are only a few of the reasons we love a race-cation to IRONMAN Austria.

by Carola Felchner

IRONMAN Austria is a pretty good reason to travel to the beautiful European country of Austria. You get to swim in the crystal clear waters of Wörthersee, bike through a breathtaking alpine panorama, and run a marathon in which you will be carried on by the cheers of hundreds of spectators lining the streets of Klagenfurt. Bonus: The course is one of the fastest in the IRONMAN series. Several times, a new IRONMAN world best time has been set here.

But the race that celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2018, is not the only reason that makes a visit to Carinthia’s capital worthwhile. Add a few days to your stay and turn your race journey into a mini vacation.

Getting there and accommodation

Not only is the course fast, traveling to Klagenfurt, the host of IRONMAN Austria, is simple and quick. (Depending of course, on where you're coming from.) There is an airport served by various airlines and only a short drive from the city center. If you don't want to rent a car, jump into a taxi or on one of the public busses commuting regularly between the airport and Klagenfurt. As the Carinthian capital is very well connected to the motorway network, you may also go by car.

Klagenfurt is used to visitors and loves guests. The range of accommodation offered is accordingly wide. Though the city itself only has approximately 100,000 inhabitants, there are hotels ranging from temples of luxury to simple hideouts, family-run guesthouses, self-catering apartments, and camp sites. As far as location is concerned, you can'y go wrong. In Klagenfurt, everything is within walking distance and the view is beautiful whether your window displays the old town, the mountains, or the lake.

Day 1: Exploring the area

After checking into your room and unpacking your stuff, the lake is worth a visit due to various reasons: It's a beautiful sight, an opportunity to cool down from the summer temperatures, and you can make it the final rehearsal for the swim leg on race day.

A small, but very nice lido is Kropfitschbad between Klagenfurt and Krumpendorf. The food served in the restaurant is high quality and you can dangle your legs in the water while eating or enjoying a coffee. You can get there by public transport.

It actually doesn't matter where at Wörthersee you go for a swim. The turquoise-colored water sets such a nice contrast to the majestic grey of the mountains and the green sunbathing lawns that you can't help but take a dip. You’ll also be able to enjoy the feeling of swimming in a famous TV lake even more without the excitement of a race. Wörthersee also provided the backdrop for the German series "Ein Schloss am Wörthersee" ("A Castle at Wörthersee") starring singer Roy Black. Schloss Velden, a yellow-colored magnificent building in which many of the series' scenes were shot, is also worth a visit.

End your day in the city center, taking a look at the impressive arcade court of Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) at Alter Platz before grabbing a seat in one of the many cafés and restaurants. A great combination of food and a nice garden is offered by Wispelhof, only a 12-minute walk away from Alter Platz.

Day 2: Carboloading de luxe

The motto of a pre-race day? Rest your legs. To do so, you don't need to stay in your room the whole day, however. A steamboat trip on Wörthersee will take you to great places without having to take a single step. Boats will stop at Maria Wörth peninsula at the southern tip of the lake. If you can't keep your feet still, you may visit the local pilgrimage church or explore one of the many hiking paths.

Another attractive stop is the small town of Pörtschach that composers Gustav Mahler and Johannes Brahms liked to visit. There are impressive mansions and lake houses lining the shores and there is a flower-lined promenade with many cafés as well. A recommendation for triathletes traveling with children is Wienerroither bakery, where you can get wonderful pastries.

Back in Klagenfurt, there will be many options to fill your energy stores before race day: Rose Cupcake Shop & Café, e.g., with its charming interior and delicious cupcakes. A rustic stop is Tavernakel where you can find bagels, salads, burgers, and pasta. In case your kids need some more play time, take them to the playground at Alter Platz near Bar Italia. They can play while you enjoy a coffee or one of the freshly-squeezed juices without having to take your eyes off your children.

Day 3: Demonstrate your strength!

In Carinthia you’ll have even more reason to look forward to the sound of the starting gun. IRONMAN Austria takes place in an area perfect for triathlon. You’ll swim almost effortlessly in the crystal clear lake with temps averaging 22 degrees Celsius. The bike course with two climbs is fast, but also reminds a little of a Tour de France stage—especially when you get on the run course with hundreds of spectators.

A hot spot for watching the swim is the exit at Seepark-Hotel. In Egg am Wörthersee, there is not only a lido and the Tschebull, one of the oldest restaurants of Carinthia. Riders will pass there at kilometers 32 and 122. The big marathon final can be watched and cheered at at Neuer und Alter Platz in the city center. If your supporters have children with them, they should stage themselves at Europapark at kilometers 12 and 32. There is a playground that was refurbished only recently and will offer a place to let off some steam before mom or dad reaches the finish stretch.

There are lots of possibilities to celebrate your IRONMAN finish in Klagenfurt, too. There are enough bars and pubs to match any taste. Fans of rock music should go to Checkpoint Charlie, if you want to listen to live music, pay Irish Pub Molly Malone a visit.

Day 4: Waving Carinthia good-bye

Start the day after your race with a big breakfast in traditional café-restaurant Sandwirth with various breakfast options ranging from classic to vegan. If you want to leaf through the IRONMAN media reports, head to Café Domgassner. Not only is the choice of newspapers superb, but also the coffee, tea, sandwiches and pastries.

After breakfast take a trip to Pyramidenkogel. From this belvedere erected on a hill of 850 m, you’ll have a great view to the mountains and the lake and can trace the race course you were competing on the day before from above.

In case you get hungry again, satisfy your hunger with something particularly delicious at Eis Greissler in Wiener Gasse and Gelateria Tutti Frutti at Kardinalplatz. You’ll have to stand in line a little longer, but the delight when tasting the ice cream is worth it. Or pay the local cat café a visit: the concept of Cat'n'Coffee is from Japan where this kind of coffee shop is quite popular. Besides a good choice of cakes and coffee, there are ten cats around for guests to cuddle and play with.

If you want to take a bath somewhere quiet after the excitement of race day, you may retreat to Loretto peninsula for the final hours of your stay in Austria, a romantic hideout with a nice little castle and a spectacular sunset. It is the perfect setting for bidding farewell to a great (race) location.